Day Pitney remains committed to providing quality legal counsel, while protecting our clients and employees, and transforming our communities into more just, equal and equitable spaces. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 Resource Center | Racial Justice and Equity Task Force.
On August 7, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed into law S726 revising the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD). The new law enhances the NJLAD's pre-existing protection for military personnel and veterans, and the New Jersey Senate described it as extending "full protection of the [NJLAD] to persons having liability for service in the Armed Forces of [the] United States; [and guaranteeing] equal employment opportunity in State contracting to all veterans."
Under the prior version of the NJLAD, those who served in the armed forces were protected by some provisions of the law, but not all. As amended, the law now makes clear military personnel "shall have the opportunity to obtain employment, and to obtain all the accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of any place of public accommodation, publicly assisted housing accommodation, and other real property without discrimination."
S726 also mandates that contractors and subcontractors on state projects guarantee equal employment opportunity to all veterans. This requirement previously applied only to Vietnam veterans.
The new law takes effect immediately. Accordingly, New Jersey employers must familiarize themselves with S726's requirements and ensure their hiring policies and practices are updated accordingly.
On February 20, Glenn Dowd spoke on "Hot Topics in Connecticut: What You Need To Know About Mandating Employee COVID-19 Vaccinations, Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave and Other Recent Developments in Connecticut Employment Law," at the 2021 Connecticut Association for the Education of Young Children (CTAEYC) Conference.
Day Pitney Alert
On February 11, the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey and Prudential will present the 11th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference.
Day Pitney Advisory
Rachel A. Gonzalez was recently recognized by New Jersey Law Journal as a "2020 Top Woman in Law."
Daniel Schwartz was quoted in the Connecticut Law Tribune article, "5 Tips for Employment Lawyers in the Age of COVID-19."
The Connecticut Law Tribune interviewed top attorneys, including Day Pitney Partner and Executive Board Member Glenn Dowd, about Big Law continuing to come up with new safety protocols and procedures in how to safely deal with opening its offices.
Day Pitney Press Release
Day Pitney Managing Partner Thomas Goldberg was quoted in Hartford Business Journal article, "Hartford law firms see spike in COVID-19-related business."